Minnesota’s winters are renowned for shutting down schools, closing roadways and putting the kibosh on all sorts of outdoor activities. Despite the best efforts of the season, the $1.2 million expansion of ANI Pharmaceuticals’ storage facility and distribution center in Baudette, Minnesota is on schedule, under the management of the KA Bemidji office.

Construction began in late 2016, just as the brutal, northern Minnesota winter was taking hold.

“Pouring concrete when temperatures dip to 35 below zero is not an easy task,” said Ross Elwood, project superintendent. “We needed to carefully select the days we transported the concrete in order to manage the appropriate, constant temperatures before, during and after placement.”

Factory in operation throughout construction

While cold weather comes with the territory, Elwood said working on the ANI project while its factory is in full operation is the real challenge.

Kraus-Anderson has deep experience managing the construction of buildings that are fully occupied. For example, the company regularly accomplishes renovations and expansions on hospitals, senior living residencies and offices where minimizing disruption is paramount.

A tight site

“The ANI project involves working in very tight conditions because the expansion is being performed adjacent and connected to the existing factory,” added Elwood. “Seann Hawkins, ANI’s owner’s rep, helped us coordinate daily activity inside and out of the high-security environment.”

In addition, the factory is located adjacent to the post office, which can never be blocked off. Elwood added the public has been very understanding, even on the day when the precast walls were delivered. “The walls were 8-feet wide and 41-feet tall, weighing more than 22,000 pounds. It was a very nerve-racking day.”

Kraus-Anderson has completed six projects for ANI Pharmaceuticals, formerly owned by Solvay Pharmaceuticals.

ANI, an emerging leader in the specialty pharmaceuticals industry, develops, manufactures and markets prescription pharmaceuticals, made in the U.S. The company’s 126,000 s.f. corporate headquarters in Baudette consists of a 52,000 s.f. warehouse and packaging facility that develops and manufactures liquid, powder and oral solid dose products. The plant also includes 17,000 s.f. of analytical, stability and microbiological laboratory space; and 56,000 s.f. of employee, office and mechanical space.